Leila Bartell is a London-based painter and film director whose work explores the interplay between humanity, nature, and the individual psyche. Her practice draws from a kaleidoscope of inspirations— spanning art history, personal memory, dreams, and fleeting moments of emotional resonance—while also engaging with contemporary ideas in philosophy, consciousness, and the nature of perception. Through layered, abstracted landscapes, Bartell investigates how internal and external worlds overlap, inviting viewers into immersive spaces where memory, imagination, and time intertwine.

Since fully embracing her painting practice in 2021, Bartell has worked from her studio in Notting Hill. Her work has been exhibited in London, Los Angeles, and across Europe. In 2024, she presented a solo exhibition at Daniel Katz Gallery, forming a contemporary dialogue with Filippo Parodi’s Baroque sculpture. Her upcoming solo show at Tristan Hoare Gallery (June–July 2025) will explore cloudscapes and memory, engaging with the legacy of John Constable. Earlier this year, Bartell was part of the gallery’s Colour exhibition, alongside Bridget Riley, Anish Kapoor, Howard Hodgkin, and other notable contemporary artists.

Bartell’s films also reflect these themes, exploring inner transformation through movement, sound, and visual metaphor. Her work is held in public and private collections, including the Lower Carniola Museum in Slovenia, the South Balaton Contemporary Art Foundation in Hungary, and the Elie Khouri Art Foundation in Dubai.

Bartell’s paintings create spaces where viewers engage with their own perceptions, suspended in a sense of timelessness.They quietly challenge the viewer’s sense of self and expand the conversation beyond individual expression into a constantly evolving, collective discourse.